Blood tests are a fundamental component of medical diagnostics, commonly ordered for various purposes such as assessing general health, detecting infections, evaluating organ function, and screening for genetic conditions. Samples are typically taken from a vein in the arm by a doctor, nurse, or phlebotomist. Preparation for the test may involve fasting or adjusting medication intake as advised by the healthcare professional.
During the test
A needle is inserted into a vein to collect a blood sample, which may cause slight discomfort but is generally tolerable.
After the test
Minor bruising may occur, but significant after-effects are rare. Test results are processed in a laboratory and the nurse will only contact abnorma results to the patient, with some results available the same day and others taking longer